A Parisian balcony view

This is what happens when you pop by a friend's house for a quick coffee in Paris. You discover that they have the most intriguing neighbours and some spectacular monuments down the road. I am lucky given the sun is out and the weather God has decided to smile upon the city of love granting us warm weather in the middle of September which means all windows are open.

Stepping out onto the balcony I walked into a world 

Uhhh, can I spot a Chanel dress on the mannequin?

Let's take a closer look

It seems Chanel have bought up the whole neighbourhood!?!

Perfect spot for a romantic lunch date.

I wonder if his date has stood him up?

Looking down the other direction... La Madeleine comes into full splendour.

I am sure this door would have a few secrets to tell.

A Parisian balcony with a life all to itself.

French cuisine in a flash

Thank Goodness for foodie friends and French cuisine.

When meeting up with girlfriends for lunch there are two ways to enjoy each others company. You either choose a lovely Parisian terrace and soak up the last rays of summer sun while gossiping with your BBFs OR you strap on an apron and start cooking all together attending a 60 minute cook and lunch workshop.

Giggles and surprises are guaranteed. Who knew my friend could chop an onion in 30 seconds flat? Or that - many years ago in a different life - the Dutch friend I brought along lived in the same road as the Dutch friend's sister that my Spanish friend invited and became buddies?!?

L'Atelier des Chefs allows each guest to handle a knife (and a sharp one it is!) as well as quality ingredients. You learn to prepare the recipe by listening to the chefs instructions, simple, fast and tasty!

25 minutes into the class we had prepared a Curry d'agneau minute aux fruit et semoule à la mangue which we then proceeded to devour with a glass of succulent red wine sitting around a long, high wooden table allowing for camaraderie amongst all the participants.

My family doesn't know it yet but I have just added a dash of "savoir-faire" to my culinary repertoire and they'll have the pleasure of a new delicious dish added to their panoply of dinner menus.

Bon Appétit!

La Parisienne à trois!

When I first arrived in Paris in September 2011 I decided I'd jump in the deep end and signed up for "La Parisienne" straight away. I figured a race specifically for women through the center of Paris was just the ticket to begin my new adventure with a blast.

It has been my "rentrée" event for the past six years. With 37,000 runners in the 2016 edition, "La Parisienne" is now the biggest race for women in the world and I'm in the thick of it...

... only this year I didn't run the 6.6. km by myself. We were three ladies in pink waiting nearly two hours for our turn to start the race at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in a festive and joyful atmosphere. That, of course, allowed for endless opportunity to catch up. One of the girls had travelled all the way from Germany to participate!

This year - due to security reason - the route, lined with over 600 musicians, was altered and we ended up running alongside the banks of the Seine which was a welcome change given the open space, fresh breeze, picturesque surroundings and historic landmarks on either sides of the river.

I could have run faster but we were a team and crossing the finish line arm in arm with a big smile on our face made us feel like we had just run an entire marathon.

It still feels as gooooooood as it did when I ran this race the first time five years ago. No, actually, it feels better because I got to share the victory with my girlfriends!

 Here we go again... La Parisienne 2016

Picking up my number and pink t-shirt the day before the race

Sunday morning and the sun has disappeared...

... but where did the palm trees come from?!?

This year's theme was "Carnaval"

My shoes are the same colour as this year's official race t-shirt

Waiting to start...

... chitter chatter all over ...

... more waiting on the Pont d'Iena ...

... nearly at the starting block ...

... the first 100 meters into the race.

One of the many music groups: guess where they're from?

Running down one side of the Seine ... 

... and up the other!

Welcome to Paris

Having kids enrolled at an International school means not only bidding your farewells to friends every year at the end of June but you also get to meet all kinds of wonderful new families that arrive at the beginning of the school year every September.

As a personal tradition I have taken on the organization of a Welcome morning sharing useful information and some fun anecdotes about life in Paris to make new parents feel more at ease with their surroundings. Many of them don't speak French and feel far out of their comfort zone.

Every year I line up various speakers who offer their advice and practical tips on how to overcome what seem like huge hurdles but are much less intimidating once you know what you are dealing with and how the system works... because there is a system to the madness!

I could happily sit back and carry on my little routine given that we are now into our sixth year in Paris but I like stepping out and offering my help and expertise. I am a curious person. I like to meet new people, discover unknown places, travel to foreign countries and learn a new language. But since it does not look like we will be moving anywhere soon; if the world does not come to me I need to go to the world!

So, bienvenue newcomers and welcome to Paris!

Still exploring Paris ...

3, 2, 1 ... Gooooooo! A new school year is kicking off today and I have just arrived from our summer base in Madrid to Paris by car. Yes, that would be 1052 km! Apart from endless hours of driving through open Spanish and French plains it gives me plenty of time to think. To contemplate on the summer gone by, the kids growing up, the year ahead and the cycle of expatriation.

Heading into our 6th year in Paris, I have come to terms with the idea that our travelling days are over. You might think: Paris is not a bad place to call home... true... and I am certainly not complaining, on the contrary I love the hustle and bustle of this city.

It's just, once an expat always an expat and it is hard to ignore that itchy feeling that creeps up during the third or fourth year which makes you want to sniff some adventurous unfamiliar breeze coming your way.

Well, it's not happening. At the kids' school I am practically part of the furniture and happy to give all the newcomers a helping hand. As for the rest of Parisian life, I have carved myself a little space in the city of lights and filled it with local friends, favourite bistrots, routine sports activities, secret getaways and a whole load of time for exploring... because no matter how long you live in Paris, there if always something new to discover.

On the road again ... 1200km to Paris

Close your eyes and listen

This is it. Time to close up our family house in Madrid and head back to Paris. We've spent yet another wonderful summer full of action as well as plenty of R&R. We blinked and the summer has come to an end. It is time to say goodby to friends and neighbours when it seems like we have just arrived.

Today, lying at the pool (yes, life is tough around here) I closed my eyes and listened to all the familiar sounds that remind me of summer and that I will miss back in France.

I will miss the scrap dealer driving past with his rattling truck shouting out Chatarrerooooo. Only in Spain!
The Spanish workers - because there is always something to repair in the neighbourhood - banging away while they argue which way is best, will be missed a little less.
Will I miss the gardner with his leaf blowing machine that wakes me up early on Friday mornings like clockwork? Yes, I will miss his kind smile when he wishes me Good Morning in his Moroccan lilt.
I will miss the birds chirping VERY loudly in the trees as if they were having an argument every morning. Spanish style!
I will miss listening to another neighbour's regular swimming strokes in the communal pool every morning and late at night from my bedroom.
Not sure I will miss the little Irish kid the other side of the gardens who is always yelling rather than talking!
I will miss one of my neighbours extremely cool jazz music which he plays during lunchtime when I am suntanning making the most of the deserted pool area.
I will remember the silence and absolute peace I treasure while hanging by the pool when everybody else is behind closed shutters enjoying their siesta time.
I will miss the trees swaying in the summer breeze.
I'll miss the clinking of plates and glasses while tables are being set on neighbouring terrasses and hearing the laughter from afar affirming their fun gatherings.
I will miss the automatic water irrigation going off at night telling me it is time for bed.

But most of all my neighbours are going to miss MY entertainment, for my Sex-and-the-City girlfriends and I have provided them with pow-wow lunches full of juicy, fun, creative, thoughtful, sad and sometimes profound conversations over past two months that they without a doubt have listened into.

Greek rhapsody

What can I say... I am in love with Greece...

the food

the sea

the history

the chilling

the beaches

the hospitality

the nature

the smells 

the time out

the sunsets

the little harbours

the cobblestones

the attitude 

the architecture

the views

 the alphabet

On holiday...

Registered to vote

I did it. I FINALLY did it! I registered to vote and requested an absentee ballot. This is a huge deal for me.

For months most of us have been following the Trump saga... thanks to extensive media coverage the entire world now knows that the US holds presidential nominating conventions to field nominees in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. It has been an incredible reality show for all of us to follow.

But enough is enough! Usually, I avoid talking politics, it's just not my thing!

However, as one of my Swiss friend's father once told me: "We are lucky enough to live in a free country therefore we must vote to defend that right." His words have stuck with me for decades.

Swiss are world champion voters and go to the polls on average every 6 weeks. Switzerland's voting system is unique among modern democratic nations in that Switzerland practices direct democracy in parallel with representative democracy, which is why the Swiss system is known as a semi-direct democracy.

I have never voted in the US but a certain Facebook post by a dear American friend got me thinking. My friends know that I am never the one to stay still and do nothing.

So, here I am - standing to defend what I believe in - knowing my Dad would be incredibly proud of me.

Best Expat Blog in Paris: Last call

The 2016 Best of Paris is a campaign running until tomorrow with the objective of identifying the Best of Paris companies, services and experiences.

Only 18 more hours to go before Expatriates Magazines closes the polls. There are 18 of us competing for Best Expat Blog... and I am one of them.

Feeling very proud and thankful for all the recognition. I am humbled to be considered as one of the best representative of Paris' Expat blogging community.

I might be small but I'm on the map!!! Thanking my readers for all your support.

The vote is still on, so go ahead and make my day!

http://www.best-in.paris/best-expat-blog/

A very busy summer...

So, do I dare to say it? Something no blogger is ever allowed to admit out loud... but why not? The truth is I am on holiday and just too busy to blog.

The summer holiday is suppose to give me time to read all those articles I have pinned, bookmarked and messaged even e-mailed to myself over the past months and never have time to read. Part of my holiday planning was to finally order a printed version of my blogs as a future keepsake. I have a booklist a mile long and my playlists have not been updated in over a year.

Instead I am spending my time running back and forth to the giant Carrefour down the road stocking up on food and drinks.... and you know what? I am loving every minute of it. Why?

Because since our arrival in Madrid we have had a constant full house of family and friends with many mouths to feed, many beds to be made, many dinners to host, many giggles to share, some tears to dry but most of all many unforgettable memories to hold the day we drive back to Paris.

So, please excuse me if my blogging is lagging behind a bit...

Happy August 1st